Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon. I wish you did, because then I could buy it from you. Then again I probably don't have the money.
Second picture up… finished my quick sketch of Ash… not sure about it, but I can't be bothered to try again.
As again, thanks for everyone's reviews; Tyrannosaurus Cerato, sure you can send me anymore information you have… would help with me finding a place to introduce the character; and anyone who has any last-minute additions to their own OCs might do so too, before I screw them up. If I write them too OoC (Out of Character) feel free to pm me, or contact me via email. In case you can't be bothered to check, you can find me at thanks for the birthday submission, WickedWolf09. If anyone else wishes to submit their birthdates and all, just bring it on.
Clarification about Oak's; Samuel Oak is officially dead. He's like Colonel Sanders of KFC. Oak's has been around for a pretty long time in the other regions, though.
And now, on to the next chapter of Pokémon Go! I actually had the whole of Sunday to write this, but unforeseen outings have left me just a few hours more… so… Chapter 20! Hope you enjoy it!
The Misdreavus was hit full in the face with the amplified Shadow Ball attack, which sent it crashing through two walls before coming to a halt. When it rose, it rose sluggishly; the attack had obviously taken a lot out of it.
Espeon staggered to her feet. Machop had spared her the finishing blow, but she wasn't anywhere near battle-ready.
"RJ… I'll need you to keep the two of them busy…"
He nodded.
"Understood. Machop; attack Cefira!"
The battle had turned pretty much one on one. As Misdreavus and Espeon recuperated, Machop and Cefira kept each other busy.
"Faint Attack, Cefira…"
The only sign that the Pokémon was a mere foot from Machop was its shadow on the ground.
"Machop, focus and Counter!"
In a swift movement, Machop raised his arm to parry the attack, wrapping his fingers around the form; shifting his feet, he pulled the invisible Pokémon into the shadow, revealing its presence.
"Minimize…"
Machop slammed his free fist into empty air as the creature slunk out of his grasp.
"Ugh…"
In the next moment Machop had been sent flying back. Amazingly, it recovered, pushing itself against the wall and flying back, delivering a glancing Karate Chop to the tiny figure, sending it flying toward a wall as well.
"… Cefira… Mirrorswap, now."
In an instant, the shimmering white spark blinked out. Confused, RJ and Dave watched in amazement as it was replaced by Espeon; looking over, they noticed that the spot which Espeon had laid in was now occupied by the same bright, dancing spark.
"Oh… no."
"Machop! Counter Espeon's flight!"
With incredible speed, Machop managed to get between Espeon and the wall, managing to cushion the impact with his palms.
"How does it do that…?" Dave flipped his PokéNav open again, checking the PokéDex.
Mirrorswap. This ability has only been seen present in the Pokémon Cefira. While this Pokémon is in shadow, it may switch places with another Pokémon in shadow, no matter whether friend or foe.
RJ turned to Dave.
"Just keep Espeon in the light; that should be alright…"
Dave nodded, relaying the order to Espeon.
"Now, Machop…? Dodge that!"
Just in time, Machop dove out of another Psywave. Misdreavus was back, and while a trifle exhausted, was still battle-ready.
"Two against one…? That's less than fair…"
Dave turned to RJ, who was, for once, fresh out of ideas.
"I think I've got a plan… but it's more than a bit risky…"
"Erm… Michelle?"
The red-haired girl was taller than she was; a fact that made Erynn more than a little worried.
"You don't happen to… I mean, when… how old are you…?"
Michelle looked at her askance, unsure of whether; how to respond.
"I'm… 14," she said, noting the look in her eyes; "I'll be 15 in August."
Ash tried hard not to laugh as Erynn looked downcast. Michelle turned to him.
"And you?"
He wondered if it'd be a good idea to walk up and shake her hand, but the thought of the Manetric made the idea of talking over a distance more appealing.
"I'm Ash… Ash Vortnes."
She approached him, her Manectric Leon following behind. With every step she took, Ash backed away, until she had him up against a wall. She smiled, amused.
"A pleasure, I'm sure. Leon sends his regards."
This time it was Erynn's turn to laugh. Michelle walked back to her seat, turning to face the two of them.
"So…"
The room was suddenly deathly quiet. No one knew quite what to say.
"Have you all eaten yet…?"
Hers was an attempt at breaking the silence, but…
"We sorta have…"
Ash sighed.
"Erynn hasn't."
Erynn opened her mouth to protest, but then shut it again.
"I ate your portion, remember?"
Michelle looked between the two of them.
"You're welcome to join me if you like…"
Ash shot Erynn a look, trying to smile reassuringly at her.
"She… we'd be happy to."
The three of them sat at the table, Erynn and Ash pointedly avoiding the overly-protective Leon. Ringing for a waiter, Erynn tried to start a conversation.
"So… what're you eating?"
Ash sighed; a bad first question. But Michelle merely shrugged.
"I've no idea. The recipe looks like it was written with Pidgey-feet dipped in ink."
At this, Erynn and Ash laughed.
"Hear, hear."
It was Ash's turn to try now.
"Hey… from one trainer to another… what Pokémon do you have?"
Michelle looked up from her food.
"You mean, besides Leon here?"
Ash cringed a little, nodding.
"Well… I've got a Jolteon…" she said, detaching the respective Pokéball from her belt, "and a Houndour."
"No nicknames?" Erynn asked.
Michelle shook her head no. "Leon's the only one with a nickname… and what about the two of you?"
Erynn spoke first.
"There's Griven… my Growlithe, then there's my Magikarp and Abra… and Oddish, who I recently caught."
Neglecting to mention she's never used either Magikarp or Abra in a single Pokémon battle…
The waiter arrived. Erynn placed her order and turned back to Michelle, who had just pointed out that Ash was without a Pokémon.
"Ditto's still asleep back at the PokéCentre. Other than Ditto I've just got a Hoppip, but all he does is sleep."
Michelle looked at him a tad skeptically.
"That's fairly interesting. Of course, I wouldn't normally leave my Pokémon in a PokéCentre… there's always a possibility that thieves might ransack your room, steal your Pokémon, then escape setting fire to the PokéCentre. Imagine; a few years down the road they might be slaves starved past emaciation, working for nothing under the whip."
Ash blinked.
"Isn't that a little… exaggerated…?" Erynn cut in, a little worried.
Michelle looked at her innocently.
"Oh… not at all. It could happen, you know."
Ash rolled his eyes.
"If you say so…" he trailed off as Leon growled at him.
Michelle broke the conversation off as she began to turn and talk to Leon. Erynn's meal arrived and she began on it again.
"So…" Michelle began again, "are the two of you travelling together?"
The two of them looked at each other, unsure of what to say.
"We are… sorta… I'm stuck with her because…"
"My sister Seryn told me I could go on my own journey so long as he came along with me."
"That's the one."
Michelle looked each of them in the eye before replying.
"You could just have said yes…"
Somehow they'd felt it necessary… Erynn chewed on her food slowly, while Ash stayed silent for awhile. He opened his mouth, shut it again, and then spoke once more.
"So… how many badges do you have now…?"
Michelle rummaged in her sling bag for awhile before removing two badges from it.
"That's…"
"The Synchro Badge… yes. Fortunately I survived the battle, which is more than I can say for those who lose these Gym battles. They could get their Pokémon mauled beyond recognition, have them confined to a life of paralysis only ended by death, or perhaps even…"
Erynn folded her arms across her chest.
"My sister's a Gym Leader."
Michelle's mouth stopped moving, forming a large O.
"Yeah… but just because it hasn't happened with your sister, doesn't mean it can't happen somewhere else."
Ash was starting to feel a tad uncomfortable.
"Are you always so… negative?"
She stroked Leon with her free hand, the other forking salad into her mouth.
"I wouldn't call it negative," she said between mouthfuls, "it's more like… well-maintained objectivity."
Ash made a strange sound; it sounded a bit like choking, only he wasn't, really. Michelle stared.
"Is he alright?"
Erynn tried to hide a grin, nodding as she swallowed her forkful of tofu.
"Don't worry… he's always like that."
RJ did a double-take.
"You can't be serious…"
Dave watched the battle anxiously; he called out a command and turned back to RJ.
"It could work, you know."
"Yes… I know, but…"
"We don't have time! Now!"
Machop dodged another Psywave, watched as another Shadow Ball impacted with the wall just a few metres from him. Their attacks were concentrating on him now; Espeon was less of a threat to them.
"Fine…"
RJ sighed resignedly. Dave nodded.
"Let's do this…"
"Machop… use Karate Chop on the wall!"
Machop looked uncertainly at RJ, who nodded.
"If you say so…"
In a single attack, the wall had cracked; Machop leapt lightly out of the way as it crumbled. Dave watched in anticipation, nodding to RJ as he prepared his own move.
Espeon… listen to me…
Espeon pricked her ears up, turning to Dave.
"Machop; now use Seismic Toss!"
Dave watched in anticipation as Machop flung a large fragment of the wall at the Cefira, who still hung in the shadows.
Now! Espeon… move into the shadows as well.
Espeon held her ground; she knew the feeling of Mirrorswap, and once was plenty enough.
You've got to listen… trust me, just this once. I want to win this as much as you…
The rock hurtled ever closer toward Cefira.
Espeon stepped into the shadows.
"Now… Cefira; Mirrorswap again."
Once more, the two Pokémon disappeared in a flash of light.
"Now; Machop!"
The instant before the Dark Star Pokémon appeared, Machop released the attack it had been focusing.
"Karate Chop, one more time!"
The Dark-type Pokémon was slammed into the ground by the power of the attack. Dave watched with bated breath as the rock hurtled toward Espeon. If he'd mistimed it, they might lose the battle after all…
Espeon… just a bit of your strength…
Getting to her feet, Espeon's ruby glowed dimly. The rock glowed with a purple aura, slowing down a bit. But Espeon's power wasn't anywhere near recovered. The psychic control faltered and died. Dave gritted his teeth as the projectile flew closer… and closer… before landing, skipping, and grinding to a halt.
Mercifully, the rock stopped just inches from Espeon.
Misdreavus took advantage the opportunity to launch a Psywave attack at Machop; it hit home, sending Machop flying sideways. RJ cursed.
"Man… Machop get up!"
Machop got to his feet, albeit more than a little injured. Looking up, RJ read the display board with more than a little trepidation. While the Cefira was down for the count, Machop, Espeon and Misdreavus were all in critical condition.
"The next Pokémon that gets hit… it's a Sudden Death…" he murmured.
Dave nodded grimly.
"Machop can't do a thing in this situation… let Espeon handle it."
RJ relented; he was right.
"I'll be waiting in the wings to assist…"
Without warning, Misdreavus flew in on the two Pokémon.
"Scatter!"
Obediently, Machop and Espeon split off in different directions. Seeming to identify the biggest threat, Misdreavus turned to follow Espeon, who was slowed by its injuries.
"Machop… help Espeon…!"
Neither trainer nor Pokémon was quite sure how to do it; Machop watched as Espeon led Misdreavus around the ruined buildings; Misdreavus was steadily gaining.
"It's going to use Astonish… Espeon; duck!"
With amazing alacrity, Espeon stopped dead in its tracks, sending Misdreavus careening off course.
"Now… Confusion attack!"
Focusing, the red ruby on Espeon's head began to glow. The attack was far too weak to overcome Misdreavus's natural psychic resistance; unless it had time to charge.
Misdreavus seemed to recognize this weakness. Unfortunately, its trainer did, too.
"Misdreavus; use a Confuse Ray."
RJ slammed his fist on the glass in front of him.
"Machop! Disrupt the ray with a Seismic Toss!"
Again, Machop flung a large rock at Misdreavus, with deadly precision. While the Pokémon was unfazed, its Confuse Ray attack was entirely nullified; the ray had been successfully blocked by the rock.
"Tch… I never though I'd have to use this but… Destiny Bond."
The weakened Misdreavus flew through the air; its eyes glowed a brilliant white, and then it was gone.
"What…? Where's it…! Espeon; hold your attack!"
RJ pressed his nose to the glass.
"It's in Machop!"
The Ghost-Pokémon had somehow succeeded in entering the same body as Machop. The trainer across them smiled wickedly.
"It's all up to you…"
The two trainers looked at each other.
"Fine… Espeon; now!"
Espeon looked at Dave, who nodded at her one last time. Then she fired her Psychic attack.
At the last moment, the Misdreavus left the body of Machop. RJ pounded the glass wall again.
"No!"
But the cry was short-lived. The shout died on RJ's lips as he watched the limp body fall to the ground.
Misdreavus had been knocked out.
"What the…?"
Dave smiled as the familiar green light washed over their heads again.
"You didn't think I'd fall for that trick, did you?"
RJ broke into a grin as the other team left the arena, disgusted.
"Well-played, my friend; well-played."
"Oh stop it with the clichés already," Dave moaned.
"Where're you guys heading to past this point…?"
Michelle asked the question with just an inkling of interest. Ash sighed.
"Well… the Fluoride Gym opens tomorrow; we weren't in time to get our Gym Battle when we first came on Friday."
Michelle looked between the two of them.
"Well… I guess I can wait until Monday…" she mused.
"Till Monday…? What, you mean…" Erynn was pretty surprised at that.
The redhead nodded.
"Yeah; why not? After all, besides the off-chance that we may all perish heroically in some natural disaster, or have our bones crushed to splinters by some enemy organization you're secretly on the run from, there can't be any harm in tagging along, now can there?"
Ash decided to reserve his comments. After all, who could argue with the Spark of a Manectric?
A/N: Oh well. The next chapter of Pokémon Go! is finally done! While I'm (apparently) having some trouble managing my time, I hope you all still managed to enjoy this chapter.
I've no idea what the next chapter's going to be like, but if my parents have it their way, I might be updating a little slower… like that'll stop me though.
Interestingly, this seems to be one of the few things I still do responsibly, so… Pokémon Go, onward ho! Stay tuned for Chapter 21!